Staying Seen Without Selling Out | Ruth Kaufman on Saying No, Showing Up, and Still Loving the Work

Actor, author, voiceover artist, improv performer—Ruth Kaufman has worn a lot of hats. In this conversation, we talk about what it means to stay present and committed in a saturated industry, even when the wins are hard to see. From casting breakdowns and shifting expectations to how self-tapes changed the emotional math of auditioning, Ruth shares how she’s managed to keep her love for the work without losing herself to the chaos of the market.

She’s been a Marvel attorney, a best actress nominee, and a comedic novelist, and has thousands of VO credits under her belt. Her films have screened across the country, and her book My Life as an Extra was a Top Comedy finalist in the Launch Pad Prose Competition. You might’ve also caught her on “America’s Funniest People” or “America’s Got Talent.” She brings a mix of seasoned perspective and no-nonsense warmth to the mic—and reminds us that sometimes, relevance is just showing up with integrity.

We talk about:
 → How audition metrics mess with your head
 → Why “make your own work” isn’t always the answer
 → The boredom of parent roles—and how to say no
 → Producing, promoting, and the exhaustion of funding cycles
 → How to stay visible without selling your soul

Find out more at ruthtalks.com
Follow Ruth on Instagram at @ruth.kaufman and on Facebook

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